The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1887-07-15
A TRIP TO ABITA SPRINGS,
LA.
BOsSier City and the New Rail-
road.

- HOt dH dhNbCdNc VI CuuudN cACHI-
siOuS. but was numbered with par
~ of about thirty perSOus, includ-
ing some of the blooming youth and
beauty OF Pennington, who were
Invited to make the initial trip on
the Poitevent & Fdvre East Louisi
ana Railroad from New Orleans to
Abitd Springs, SO We arose about 8
o'clock on Sunday morning, June
26th, having donned our best Sun
day rig, we proceeded to get our
lunch baskets filed with such sub
stantialS and delicacies as would do
justice To travel worn eXcurSiOnistS,
We then boarded the snug little
steamer w. q. Henderson, under
the management OF the gallant
Captain Il. 5. Boardman. After a
delightful early morning eide on the
placid waters of the beautiful Peal.
We arrived at Lookout Station iU
due time to board the early west
bound train GU the l.. & n. Il. K,
on Which We were quickly aud safe,
Is landed at the Morgan depot, in
New Orleans, trom whence we trans
ferred ourselves by Il pleasant walk
of a few minutes down Front street
to the n. o. q n. Il. depot. After
few minutes in which TO rest and
procure our tickets, the p. a L.
train backed into the depot with
eight beau it'll coaches and one
CON binatlOn car to receive the eager
excursi0niStS for the initial trip tC
AOita Springs. Promptly at s
O'clock the train pulled out with ID
merry and happy crowd of about
four hundred souls under the care
OF the genial and clever Captain
Dan A. BOardman as conductor, as
sisted by that atfHble gentleman,
Mr.. Max Cousin. The engine was
under the control of Mr.. Prosser, of
the n. o. e. n. e. r. r., to Pearl
River Station, and over this road
We had Il delightful ride, passing
over the renowned Lake Bridge and
enjoying the lake breeze. At Pearl
River we switched oft Oh to the F.
g. +. road, when Mr.. ProSser turned
the throttle over TO the ever smiling
Mr.. viii Seymour, who has for so
long held the throttle on the little
p. & f. log road. In a few minutes
we hauled up at Floranville, the
first station on the p. 81 Il. road.
AT this place quite n number joined
tue party, notably Capt. Sam Polte.
veuC, superintendent and Mr.. Josie
Favre, who has charge of the p. &
f. store at this place, accompanied
by their families. We then pro
ceeded 10 our destination, which
was reached on schedule time at
1890 Here we were greeted by "a
large cOnc0urse of the inhabitants
OF the Springs aud surrounding
country, and a large number from
Covington, (Which is only three
miles distant, who had gathered TO
give welcome to the arrival of The
first railroad train through the vii
dernesS OF pine forests of East
Louisiana. Here was a grand jubi-
lee for while. Shouts of welcome,
waving OF hats aud hdndkerchiets,
which was responded to by the
band of music, which was employed
to dispense music during the day.
This, with the handShaklng of old
friends, who warmly greeted each
other gave an air Of happiness to
the scene. After being safely land
ed, we repaired to the Springs to
drink TO our hearts content OF the
waters OF the famous aud beautiful
= 'Abita," aud to refresh ourselves
with "a luncheon, after which we
were prepared To take 10 BOSsier
City, and see the sights which were
new TO many of us. There are sew
eral hotels aud boarding houses in
the vicinity of the Springs, aud all
appear to have their quota 0t viii
tors; aud although taken somewhat
by surprise, they sat a bOuntitul 10.
past for those Who had not provided
for themselves. After "A pleasant
time spent ia social intercourse aud
rambling through the woods and
along the banks of the beautiful
AOita river, meanderiDg through a
lovely, rolling pine fores, With
nothing to mar the pleasures of the
day, except "A refreshing shower of
raiu which caused us TO take shell
ter for about two hours. Promptly
at 8 o'clock the whistle informed
Us that the time had arrived for us
to board the train tor our return
with pleasant memories
Of a day delightfully."- spent IN tue
heart of the balmy pine forest OF
East Louisiana. just FIVE years
ago the 6rst tree was cut for the
right OF way for POltevent & /.
little narrow guage log rail-
road, which was designed to assist
10 Supplying heir mammoth mills
II Poarlington With logs. THIS road
vas gradually extended into the
'orest as occasion required until